CONRAD DIAS
Ranchi, Dec 7: The newly constructed Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower at Birsa Munda Airport, which took nine years to get completed, has come under scrutiny due to its height. According to the proposal, it was to be constructed within a radius of 30 metres, but its height has reached around 35 metres.
Moreover, the matter has been forwarded to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Ranchi Airport Authority has sought its permission. The tower will only start functioning after the DGCA gives a nod or else the upper part of the tower will have to be demolished.
Notably, the international terminal at the Birsa Munda Airport was built in 2013 and the construction of the new ATC started in December 2013. The completion of the tower took exactly nine years and it has been equipped with all the state-of-the-art equipment.
The function of the ATC is to facilitate flight operations. After the new ATC comes into use, flight operations will be better controlled. With its introduction, it will be easier to control two or more aircraft operations simultaneously along with its landing and takeoff. The old ATC tower has become outdated.
According to an official of Birsa Munda Airport, after the new air traffic control unit starts, international and big flights will also be able to land in Ranchi. The air traffic control system that is currently working is old and its range is also less. Although this does not cause any problems with the flights, when the new and hi-tech ATS centre starts, it will be easier to land big flights.
Presently, the flights operating from Ranchi are being controlled by the old ATC. The height of the ATC building from which work is being done is only 16 to 17 meters. Due to this, the entire operational area of the airport is not visible.
